A new analysis by the Climate Council has revealed that more than 7 million residents of Australia’s five largest cities—Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide—do not live within walking distance of public transport frequent enough to allow them to abandon their cars. The study found that lower-income suburbs are disproportionately affected in all cities except Sydney.
The analysis defined convenient access as living within 800 metres (a 10-minute walk) of a service that runs at least every 15 minutes between 7am and 7pm. Sydney fared best, with 67.2% of residents meeting this threshold, while Brisbane lagged at just 33.7%. Melbourne ranked second (52.5%), followed by Adelaide (47.6%), Perth (40.5%), and Brisbane.
Sydney’s access was highest in the central business district, Botany, and eastern suburbs, but poorest in the Blue Mountains, Penrith, and Campbelltown, with good coverage ending around 25km from the CBD. In Melbourne, wealthier suburbs enjoyed better access, with the CBD, Albert Park, and South Yarra well-served, contrasting with Cardinia, the Mornington Peninsula, and Fawkner.
The analysis highlighted that Australia’s public transport access paled in comparison with global cities such as New York, where 82% of residents live within 800 metres of a subway station. The Climate Council argued the findings underscore the need for greater investment in buses, trains, and other public transport to boost ridership and cut emissions.
